One of the best prison movies ever made. Jules Dassin's direction is so strong, so precise, so mind-boggling it packs a real wallop. Hume Cronyn gives a subdued but extremely scary portrayal of a sadistic brute. Always in a suave voice, always saying "I want to help you", there's only one way for him: the hard one. Burt Lancaster is equally effective as a tough inmate. But the whole cast cannot be too highly praised. (more here)

One of the best prison movies ever made. Jules Dassin's direction is so strong, so precise, so mind-boggling it packs a real wallop. Hume Cronyn gives a subdued but extremely scary portrayal of a sadistic brute. Always in a suave voice, always saying "I want to help you", there's only one way for him: the hard one. Burt Lancaster is equally effective as a tough inmate. But the whole cast cannot be too highly praised. (more here)